Older Patients with Dementia at Increased Risk for Flu Mortality

Adults age 65 and older who have dementia are diagnosed with the flu less frequently, have shorter hospital stays and have a 50 percent higher rate of death than those without dementia, a new study finds.

The study by Tufts University School of Medicine analyzed the relationship between pneumonia and influenza and heathcare accessibility.

“The increased mortality of older patients with dementia hospitalized for flu may be indicative of inadequacies in healthcare quality and accessibility. It could be beneficial to refine guidelines for the immunization, testing and treatment of flu in older patients with dementia when planning for the possibility of a flu pandemic,” said senior author Elena Naumova, Ph.D., of Tufts University School of Medicine.

The authors said that limited access to healthcare services and inadequate testing practices may contribute to the higher rate of mortality and lower rates of diagnosis of flu seen in older patients with dementia.

Dementia causes unique obstacles to the early diagnosis and treatment of the flu. Patients may have difficulty communicating symptoms and medical complications due to poor oral hygiene or impaired swallowing.